The walk
Slievenaglogh (Irish: Sliabh na gCloch, ‘mountain of the stones’) is a 584 m top in the Mourne Mountains of County Down, and for most walkers it is a leg on a longer day rather than the point of one. The Mourne Wall runs right over the summit, which tells you what to expect: a broad, stony rise you tick off between bigger neighbours. If you have only one day in the Mournes, spend it on Binnian or Bearnagh, the range’s signature peaks. If you are already up on the wall, this is a straightforward addition.
The name is honest about the ground. The summit is marked by a small stone cairn, with the Silent Valley catchment falling away on one side and the granite tops of the range spread out around it.
The Mourne Wall
The wall is the real reason to be up here. Built between 1904 and 1922, this 1.5 m dry-stone barrier was thrown up to enclose the Silent Valley catchment that supplies water to Belfast, and it climbs straight over the summits rather than skirting them. No mortar holds it together – just weight and careful fitting – and it has stood through a century of Atlantic weather. On Slievenaglogh it doubles as a handrail: follow it and you will not lose your way, which counts for a lot when cloud drops onto the tops.
The route from Banns Road
The usual approach is a circular route from the small Banns Road car park: about 6.9 km with 296 m of ascent, two to two and a half hours at a walking pace. You follow Banns Road itself for the first 1.6 km or so, then turn right onto a winding track that climbs to the summit. Parking is free at Banns Road, but the car park is small; if it is full, a nearby farmyard charges £3, and the larger Spelga Dam car park is the fallback. Both are reached off the B180 towards Hilltown.
Practical notes
- Facilities: none on the hill – no toilets, no water, no shelter. Mobile signal is patchy across the Mournes, so download an offline map before you set off.
- Navigation: OS 1:50,000 sheet 29 covers the area. The wall is a reliable guide, but carry a map or GPS for poor visibility.
- Safety: mountain weather turns quickly, and the ground goes boggy after rain; some stream crossings on the longer circuits swell in heavy runoff. In dry spells the Mournes are prone to wildfire, so check local fire warnings, stay off any lit ground, and keep dogs under control near livestock.
When to go
Late spring through early autumn gives the most settled walking, and the heather colours the slopes through late summer. Winter can be fine but wants proper boots, layers and care on any icy sections. Either way, this is rarely a summit you climb on its own: from the top the Mourne Wall runs straight on – west to Slieve Corragh, east to Slieve Commedagh – and most walkers keep going.